Reflagging of Kuwaiti Ships in ‘Final Stages’

The process of putting 11 Kuwaiti tankers under the U.S. flag is in its “final stages,” and the tankers “could sail in short order,” White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said today.

Fitzwater said he does not know when U.S. warships will begin escorting the vessels through the Persian Gulf except that “we will begin escorting as soon as the President feels it’s time and everything is ready.”

Meanwhile, Sen. William L. Armstrong of Colorado, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, said GOP leaders who met with President Reagan this morning were told that Britain also would escort Kuwaiti tankers. Fitzwater, however, said this is not correct.

The White House spokesman said National Security Adviser Frank C. Carlucci described British activities in the gulf, which include armed escorts for British tankers, but “there was nothing in his comments to suggest anything in addition to the existing efforts there.”

Asked about the reflagging of Kuwaiti ships, Fitzwater said, “My understanding is that it is in its final stages and that the tankers could sail in short order in terms of the certification process.”

Distance From Gulf

Deputy White House Press Secretary Daniel Howard said some of the tankers are a considerable distance from the gulf.

Armstrong said the lawmakers were told that Britain “made a commitment and other nations are prepared to do so” in the wake of the Venice economic summit.

He said it was “a commitment to provide, in the case of Britain, ships and, in the case of other nations at the summit, a commitment to provide funding and other sources of support.”

Asked whether the British ships would be used to escort Kuwaiti tankers, Armstrong said, “Yes, that is my understanding.”

Armstrong’s statement conflicted with reports from last week’s seven-nation economic summit that allies agreed to provide diplomatic, but not military, support for the U.S. policy of escorting Kuwaiti tankers in the gulf.